Compare towns
Oakham vs Sutton vs Whately
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Oakham has the most affordable homes ($420k median).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Whately has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Oakham | Sutton | Whately |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,639 |
9,452Highest |
1,499Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+7.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±2.3 23% above MA |
44.3±2.5Lowest 11% above MA |
49.3±6.7Highest 23% above MA |
| Whately and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Sutton and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.5%±6.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Whately and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Sutton and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,000±$20kLowest about the MA average |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$116,563±$15k 12% above MA |
| Sutton and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $420,100±$20kLowest 25% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$431,500±$22k 23% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81 33% below MA |
$1,190±$401Highest 32% below MA |
$977±$125Lowest 45% below MA |
| Sutton and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$5,027 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±69.1 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.7%±29Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Sutton and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
88.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 32% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±8.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #105 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Quabbin | Sutton | Whately |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.